Miniature Schnauzer Breed Information

There are three Schnauzer breeds – the Giant Schnauzer, the Standard Schnauzer, and the Miniature Schnauzer. The smallest among the Schnauzers, the Miniature Schnauzer is a smart, obedient, and friendly companion that is low-shedding and generally enjoys robust health.

These stocky looking dogs stand 12-14 inches in height on average and weigh 11-20 pounds. The average life expectancy of a Miniature Schnauzer is 12-15 years. Standard colors are black, black and silver, and salt and pepper.

Miniature Schnauzers make excellent family pets due to their friendly, outgoing nature and charming faces. They are also great farm dogs and can be tough without being overly aggressive. This adaptable breed does equally well with apartment dwellers and country dwellers. They get along well with other animals and young children.

This is a low shedding breed but does require regular grooming care. To keep your Miniature Schnauzer looking her best, you’ll have to frequently brush her soft undercoat and wiry overcoat. Most people who own Miniature Schnauzers choose to take them to professional groomers to have the coat trimmed every 5-8 weeks.

Miniature Schnauzers are alert and active and require daily exercise at a medium level. It’s great if you have a fenced yard where your Miniature Schnauzer can run around and enjoy playtime with family members. Miniature Schnauzers have a strong prey drive and will not hesitate to chase small animals, so you should always keep him on a leash when not in a fenced area.

This is a highly intelligent breed that’s highly trainable. You do need to mix up the training activities to keep a Miniature Schnauzer interested because they get easily bored with repetitive tasks.

In terms of nutrition, you should give your Miniature Schnauzer high-quality dog food, either store bought or home prepared. Limit treats as they can lead to obesity. Also, make sure your Miniature Schnauzer always has fresh, clean drinking water.